Shawnee police nabbed a suspect with stolen loot, which led officers to discover even more stolen items and solve numerous burglary and larceny cases. Detectives are now comparing more than 100 items to recent reports in attempts to return all the property to its owners.

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By Kim Morava

The Shawnee News-Star

By Kim Morava

Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Updated Feb 21, 2013 at 6:16 PM

By Kim Morava

Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Updated Feb 21, 2013 at 6:16 PM

Shawnee police nabbed a suspect with stolen loot, which led officers to discover even more stolen items and solve numerous burglary and larceny cases. Detectives are now comparing more than 100 items to recent reports in attempts to return all the property to its owners.

Police have arrested Anthony Ray Smith, 30, on complaints of second-degree burglary, possession of stolen property and grand larceny. He remained jailed Wednesday in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center. Formal charges have not been filed.

A police reports shows Smith was arrested and several burglary cases were solved after he was identified as the suspect for the burglary of a shed Tuesday morning at a home in the 1800 block of North Minnesota.

Occupants of the home reported several items missing, including a generator and tiller, and told police that a cousin, identified as Smith, was the alleged suspect.

Police working the case obtained an address where Smith had allegedly gone, so police responded to 2202 W. Benedict, where the stolen items were found and Smith was detained.

The homeowner of the Benedict Street residence, who told police Smith does not reside there, told officers that he had been bringing items to her home, the report shows. She gave police permission to search the property, where officers found items taken from the Minnesota burglary case as well as many other stolen items.

Officers obtained a search warrant and began a long process of removing and logging into evidence stolen items being recovered from that residence.

According to the police report, Smith told officers he took the items from his cousin’s property for safe-keeping because they were losing their home, although he admitted to cutting a lock to get inside the shed.

In addition to the stolen items taken from the cousin’s shed, police found many other items and a stolen car hauler trailer, the report shows.

During an interview with detectives, Smith allegedly confirmed to officers there was stolen property at the Benedict Street home. He allegedly admitted that he purchased bolt cutters in October and began using them to break into sheds and outbuildings in Shawnee. The report shows he detailed some of the items taken from various locations, including many sheds around where he had been residing in the 800 block of North Hobson.

In addition, Smith allegedly told police about items taken from a trailer that was parked on Drummond Street, as well items taken from a residential shed in that area, along with items from two pickups parked at Cimarron Terrace Apartments, the report reads. He spoke about taking a TV from the Aldridge, along with numerous from storage units at 630 W. Ayer, according to the report.

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It appeared many or all of the items were located during the search warrant on Benedict Street and were being logged in as evidence. Detectives are now reviewing recent burglary and larceny reports in attempts to match and return the stolen items to their owners.

Shawnee Police Evidence Officer Greg Gibson said they’ve logged in 138 items so far. He asks anyone with a storage building, and especially those with storage units at places south of Independence Street, to check their sheds and units to make sure their locks are intact and a burglary hasn’t gone unnoticed. If items are found missing, he encourages those persons to file a police report.

Shawnee Police Chief Russell Frantz, who said this incident and arrest is going to help solve multiple burglary cases from Shawnee, said a good job was done by all officers involved.

All case reports on the investigation will be turned over to the district attorney’s officers for consideration of formal charges against Smith.